Process of affixing labels.



NQ- 830,l95. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

v E. H. BAARB.

PRCESS 0F AFPIXING LABELS. APPLIOATION FILED M N'. a, 1906A N N l@ UNiTED s'rngras 'PATENT oFFroE.

EDWIN H. BAARE, OF ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM J.

lLEB/IP BREWING COMPANY, OF. ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORA- TION OF MISSOURI.

PROCESS OF lAFFIXINC- LABELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed January 8. 1906. Serial Ifo. 294,987-

To all, whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. BAARE, a

citizen of the United States, residin at the I following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in processes of aiiixing label's, especially those of peculiar or irregular shape. A separate application for patent for one form of machine for practicin said process was filed by me July 21, 1905, ESerial No. 270,609, and is copending herewith.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like numerals of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, I have illustrated such machine so far as is necessary to aid in understanding my said process.

Figure 1 is a top plan view ofone form of machine for practicing my herein-described process; and Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Bottlers and other ersons have long desired to attract specia notice for their goods by using a label which from some distinct, irregular, and peculiar shape would enable the public to recognize and identify their goods by the shape ofthe label alone, and thus give a means cf distinguishing them from those of other manufacturers in addition to the matter rinted on the label. While numerous labe s of distinctive shape have been designed, great difliculty has been experienced in applying them in commercial quantities to the articles to which they are to be attached, and while they might be affixed by hand that process is much slower and far mcre expensive than the methods practiced by machines. While some processes have been devised fcr aiiixing regularly-shaped labels, most of them are not adapted for use when it is desired to handle labels of irregular cr peculiar shape.

M new process of applying labels consists in p acing the labels to be aflixed in a suit-l able receptacle, Awhich I prefer to call a label-stock holder, then separating the top label from the stock of labels, the separation being accomplished by pneumatic action, carrying the individual label so separated by any suitable means, which I speak of asa label-carrier, to a predetermined Ipoint, retaining same on the carrier means by pneumatic action till the predetermined oint is reached, treating said individual abel with adhesives while being so retained, cutting off the pneumatic action and thereafter or' simultaneously stripping the individual label from the carrier at the proper time, forwardin the label to a predetermined point whlle loosely resting upon or while loosely held by the forwarding means, allowing said forwarding means to support the label by coming into contact with a very limited portion of its surface, the label resting on said forwarding means by gravity while being so forwarded, stripping the label from its said supporting and forwarding means at said predetermined point, causing the same thereupon to be supported by other means adapted to hold both the label and theA bottle, and then causing the bottle by gravity and other impulsion to roll over the gummed label thus supported, the label by means of the weight and movement of the bottle, assisted, if necessary, by other pressure, being thus caused to adhere to the bottle.

In order to render the foregoin y description of my said process more intelligible, I will briefly describe one form of machine by which it can be practiced and the operations thereof.

The main frame 1, consisting of certain vertical standards and horizontal crosspieces 2, supports in their several positions the various moving arts hereinafter described. The arrows indicate the direction of movement or rotation of said moving parts. A common source of power-supply-- for instance, the belt 3-directly or indirectly actuates all said moving parts. The belt 3 drives the band-wheel 4, keyed to the main shaft 5, to which is also fixed the grooved pulley 6, which drives the grooved pulley 7 by the belt 8, said pulley 7 being fixed to the shaft 9., which rotates the roller 10, said shaft 9 being journaled in suitable bearings 11 on roo the rece tacle 12, which holds the adhesive materia 18, applied tothe labels by the roller 10, during the course of its rotation.

The main shaft 5, journaled in one of the cross-pieces 2, drives a pinion 14, fixed at its 1o 5 inner end. The same cross-piece, with a similar one 'on the opposite side of the machine, also provides bearings for other shafts hub 17.

vtion between the.exterior' atmosphere and the interior of the shaft 16 for purposes to be hereinafter described. A slot 23 'is formed circumferentially partially around the Wheel of shaft 16 opposite the openings of the hollow spokes 20, so that when the wheel 18 is revolved on shaft 16, the slot 23 opens into the hollow s okes 20 part of the time, while the part of t e circumference of shaft 16 opposite said, slot 23, said part being marked 24, acts as 'a cut-off of communication between the interior shaft 16 and one of the hollovir spokes 2O during that part of the travel of die 21 when same is approaching its highest point. From the hollow shaft 16 a pipe or tube 25 leads to an suitable fan,

' (not shown,) so that as the an o erates it creates suction successively throug pipe-25, shaft 16, slot 23, spokes 20, and'perforations 22, so that when a label is upon one or both of the dies or label-holders 21 said air-suction retains it in that position, except Athat as a spoke 20 passes the uncuta'way portion 24 the air is thereby blocked off from that spoke 20. Thus during the major portion of t e rotation of the label-carrier 18 air-suction takes place through the perforations 22 and spokes 20. The shaft 16, by means of the sl'ot 23 therein, thus acts as a valve allowing air-suction'the greater part of the time, but cutting'off the same during that part of the rotation of one of the spokes 20 when the die 21 is nearing the upper position in Fig. 2, the pneumatic action being cut 0E at that time in order tofacilitate the stripping of the label from the die 21, as herein after described.

To the wheel 18 is fixed concentrically the gear 26, which meshes with and is driven by the pinion 14. The rotation of the wheel 18 carries the dies or label-holders 2l successively past the label stock located in the label-cup 27, the adhesive-appl ing roller 10, and to the point. where the abel is stripped from the label-holder 21, which point is at the position of the upper label-holder 21, as shown in the drawings. The die 21 and cup 27 o crate as coacting male and female parts W en the die 21 in the course of rotation of thewh'eel 18 has reached such point of its travel that it can enter the cu 27. As the Wheel 18 further rotates, the ie 21 is withdrawn from the cup 27 and passes on the rollei` 10. Within the cup 27 is'placed a stock of labels resting on the plate 28, which l is arranged by suitable mechanism to move forward as the stock of labels is exhausted. The cup 27 is mountedon arms 29, pivoted by the shaft 30 to one of the cross-pieces 2, and

a pitman 31 is pivoted eccentrically to said arm 29 and is also pivoted eccentrically at` 32 to the pinion 14, so thatl as the pinion revolves it alternately depresses and raises the cup 27. These oscillations are so timed and' regulated that the cup 27 opens at just the right time and in the right position to receive each one of the dies 21 and to allow them to enter and leave without friction.

When the wheel 18 rotates so as to cause one of the dies 21 to enter the cup 27, the die compresses the stock of labels, consisting of a large number of individual labels, so as 'to express the air from between the same and drive it out of the cup through the perforar tions 33 formed in the mouth thereof or along the sides ofthe stock of labels land of die 21. This leaves the stock of labels like a solid block, and allows the'suction of air through the 23, s aft 16, and pipe 25, induced by the fan erforations 22, hollow spokes 20, slotaforementioned to separate a single labelV from the pile constituting the stock, which label is then held by the air-suction just referred to upon the-dies 22, which are fastened in any suitable manner, so as to pass through the rim of the wheel 18 and form an air-tightconnection with the hollow spokes 20. When 'the label has been separated from. the stock by the pneumatic action, as above described, and while said label is still retained on the label-holder 21 by the same TOO pneumatic actionfthe rotation of the wheel In the periphery of the Wheel 18 (elsewhere denominated the label-carrier") a plurality" of grooves 35 is provided, which grooves extend through the dies 21. Endless steel Wires or threads 36 are located in said grooves and pass around grooved pulleys 37, which rotate on shaft 38. As the wires are located between the labeland the rim of the wheel 18, they are adapted to strip the label from the dies 21 as said dies reach the point of tan ential departure of said wires 36 from the w eel 18, the pneumatic action being cut off by the uncut-away portion 24 of the shaft 16 just as the label reaches said point. Then as the rotation of the wheel 18 actuates the endless wires 36 to travel as endless conve ers they serve as a conveyer for each of the la els from the time said wires strip the labels from the wheel or label-carrier 18, conveyingeach label individually to the labeling-table 39. The

labeling-table 39 has ceive the wires 36. Said table39 is vertically movable, and each label conveyed by the wires 36 reaches a point immediately above same at a time when said table 39 is in its lower position. The forward movement of the label on the wires 36 is limited b a pin 41, which is placed in a recess in ta le 39,

' said recess containing a spring 42, which norlplace,

mally projects the in 41 above the table 39, so as to stop the abels when brought into contact therewith by the wires 36, but allows depression of said pin within said recess by the mere force of the bottles rolling over the same. The table 39 has dependmg therefrom standards 43 which support the same. The table preferably consists of a metal plate 44, said plate havin' on its edges a flange 45, which retains a ru ber pad or block 46 in thus giving the table a cushion-like character When the bottles roll upon it.

A air of cams 47, revolving with the shaft 15, w 'ch is driven by the pinion 14, meshing with a gear-wheel 48, xed to said shaft 15, roduces the vertical reciprocation of the ta- Vle 39. T he standards 43, working in the sleeves'49, formed in the hanger 50, depending from one of the cross-pieces 2, have rollerbearings 51 at their lower ends. Said rollers 51 ride in the grooves 52 of the cams 47, and when in the course of rotation of the cams 47 the rollers 51 strike the shoulders 53 they ride over the same, thus instantly causing the table 39 to rise, and the same remains in its higher position s o long as the rollers 51 ride on the high part of the cams 47. Above the table 39 extends the endless 'conveyer 54, consisting of a flat belt or web traveling over a pair of pulleys 55, journaled by horizontal shafts 56, which are supported in any convenient manner by the arms 57 and bracket 58. The function of the endless conveyer 54 is to cause the bottles to travel across the labeling-table 39 until the bottle leaves the table 39 and having been labeled thereon rolls upon the shelf 59, from whence it can be removed to be packed and shipped.

Before being labeled the bottles 60 are placed on the inclined shelf 61, and an escapement 62 (shown only in part inthese drawings) allows the bottles to roll one at a time down the shelf 61, across the table 39, where it receives its label, and onto shelf 59. In addition to the rolling motion imparted to the bottle by the said incline it is also ositively fed forward by the movement of t e endless conveyer 54, which serves also as a means for pressin the label more tightly u on the bottle as t e same travels between '31e conveyer 54 and the table 39. The upward vertical movement of the table 39 takes lace at the ve moment that the bottle lan s upon said tab e, and the bottle rolling on said table depresses the pin 41, so as to leave a free rollooves 46, which reing- The withdrawal of said pin 41 does not afect the label which has been delivered by the wires 36 a ainst andstopped by said pin 41;

but the la el is left lying on the rubber pad 46|of the table 39, being disenga ed from the wires 36 by the upward vertica movement of the table 39, said movement causing the wires to descend to the lowest portion of the grooves 40 in the table 39. This neatly separates the'wires 36, which have conveyed thev label to that spot from said label even if the wires have become stick from long use. 'B this means the label is eft in aposition exactly in the path of travel of the bottle across the labeling-table and detached from anything that might hold it, and the bottle'by gravity-that is to say, by its mere weight rolling upon the label-causes the label to adhere to it and Wrap about it, said adhesion being romoted and tightened and the overplus a hesive material expressed by the pressure of theconveyer 54 and pad 46 upon the label and bottle.

Near the end of shaft 15 is attaohed'the bevel-gear 63. This meshes with another bevel-gear 64, attached to shaft 65, on which shaft is keyed a sprocket-wheel 66. Over this Wheel 66 passes a chain 67, which actuates the wheel 68, keyed to a shaft, (not shoWn,) which shaft passes through the sleeve 69`and drives a pulle 70, attached to said shaft to actuate the en less conveyer 54. At the end of shaft 15 is-a pinion 71, which actuates the escapement device by means of gear 72, shaft 73, sprocket 74, chain 75, and shaft 76.

The operation of the machine is as follows: All parts arrows. The fan, having been started, induces air-suction through the pipe 25,-hollow shaft 16, slot 23, hollow spokes 20, and perforations 22 in the dies 21. The rece tacle 12 for the adhesive material with w ich the label is to be pasted upon the bottle having been previous y filled with such adhesive, preferably in liquid form, the main shaft 5,

y means of belt 8 and ulley 7, rotates roller 10, the label-stock older 27 having been filled with labels to a point adjacent to or slightly beyond the circumferential perforations 33, the disk 28 being at the bottom of the cup 27. With the rotation of the main shaft 5 the pinion 14 drives the ears 26 and 48 and with them thc wheel or abel-carrier 18 and the shaft 15. The wheel 18 thus successively presents each die or label-holder 21 at the mouth of the label-stock holder 27 and slightly inserts the same therein. For convenience of this insertion and also to enable the label-holder 21 to' compress the stock of labels within the cu 27, expressing the air between the labels t rough the perforations 33 or alongside the pack of labels, an'd to sepasurface for the bottle across thetable.

move in the direction indicated by IIO i rate the top label from the stock of labels and remove same from the label-stock holder or cup v27 .without theV removed label c'o'min in contact with the edges of thecupv 27 s'ai cup 27 is iven lan oscillating' movement by alternate 4 epression ofthepitman 31, eccentrically connected at 32 to the pinion 14.

The label-holder 21 leaves the cup 27, holding a label thereon, which is carried b further revolution of the wheel or labe -carrier 18 untilsaidlabel comes into co'ntactwith the roller 10, where the label receives a'coat- I 'ing fof adhesive material.' "The A wheel- 18 v'and later int'o a v 'adhere tightly to the" bott e which'` is forv'fwardedby the c onveyer 54 tothe shelf 59,

'the .shelf 59.

thence to be'premoved. The high position of the table 39 is maintained until the Lbottlehas traveled acrossthe same and has reached Thereupon the table descends to its lowest position, this alternate rising and falling movement of the table 39 being rod`uced by the rotation of the cams 47, Fixed to the shaft 15, which is driven by the gear 48, meshing with pinion 14. The rollers 51 ride u on the cams 47 Iand being connected with t e standards 43, supporting the table v39,' causel said table to rise and fall. The supply of bottles to the table 39 is regulate and predetermined by 'the' speed of the Vescapement devices l62, actuated by shaft 15,v and the conveyer 54 is also actuated by said shaft byl means of gears 63 64,

sprocket-wheel 66, andy the shaft l1n sleeve 69. All of the moving arts are so proportioned, arranged, and regu ated that they move synchronously, so that each shall perform its proper function at the rolper time to coperate with any other an a parts depending thereupon. Thus the label-holders 21 are so arranged with relation to the other parts that a label is delivered to the table 39 at a time when lthe1 upward movement of the table will act to stri the label from'the wires 36 and also at suc time with relation to the escapeinent of the bottles that the bottles will cause the labels to adhere thereto by rolling there- In'like manner the oscillation of the label-stock holderv is so regulated that its openin re isters with the approaching die or label-ho der 21 and continues in register therewith until an yindividual label has been seo,

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bel-holder 21 has rotated so as to be withdrawn from the label-stock holder 27.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent iS'- J bottles and the like consistingin separating van individual label from a stock by pneumaticvaction,retainin same thereby, treating said individual la el with an adhesive "while thus retained, and carrying same by 'means of said 'pneumatic action to a point Iadjacent where the weight' 'and movement ofl the bottle'cause said'label to adhereto the bottle, and aflixing said label ltoa bottle by causing the bottley so .to move with relation to said label that the weight and movement of the 'bottle causev the'adhesion ofthe label thereto.

2. The process of applying labels to bottles or like objects consisting in picking u an individual label by pneumaticv action an retaining/same by the same means, treating same with an adhesive on one side while so held, and continuing said pneumatic action' until the label is carried adjacent the-bottle to be labeled, then stripping the label from 'said pneumatic retainer, then forwarding same i'n a plane immediately underneath the labeling position ofthe bottle, and then .causing the bottle to roll over the label, whereby the label adheres to the bottle.

' 3. The process of applying labels to bottles o1' like objects consistin in carrying a label by pneumatic action an otherwise to a predetermined point, applying adhesives to the label while bein carried thereto, a plying pressure from eloW at Said pre etermined point, and then allowing the bottle to roll over the label, whereby the wei ht and movement of the bottle, assisted by t e pressure from below cause said label to adhere to the bottle.

4. The-process of applying labels to bot- `tles and the like consisting in separating an individual label from a stock by pneumatic action, retaining same thereby, treatingsaid individual label with an adhesive While thus fretained, carrying same by pneumatic action fag-predetermined distance, `stripping the label from the pneumatic carrier, and carrying the label loosely to a predetermined point, and at said predetermined point causing the weight and movement of the bottle to produce adhesion of said label to the bottle.

5. The process of applying labels to bottles and the like consisting in separating an\ individual label from a stock by pneumatic action, retaining same thereby, treating said individual label with an adhesive while thus retained, carrying same by pneumatic action from the pneumatic carrier, and forwarding the label while supported by partial contact secured by the label-'holder and until the la- 'with its surface to va predetermined-point,

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a predetermined distance, stripping the label 1 and at said predetermined point causing the Weight and movement of the bottle to produce adhesion of said label to the bottle.

6. The process of applying labels to bot-- 5`tles consisting in stripping a mmed label from a carrier means on Whic it has been held by pneumatic action by cutting oi the pneumatic action and immediately thereafter or simultaneously removing same from :o the carrier means, forwarding the label While loosely held on the forwarding means to a predetermined point, and at said predetermined point causing the weight and movement of the bottle to produce adhesion of said label to the bottle.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN H. BAARE.

Witnesses:

W. E. MADsoN, F. BUENNEKE. 

